Paper-folding apparatus.



- I 2 EEHEETS-SEEET 1.

E. A. NORMAND. PAPER FQLDING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1906.

' Patente Dec. 3, 1912.

' WITNESSES: INVENTOR AZTORNEX E A. NORMAND PAPER FOLDING- APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 5

Patented Dec. 3, 19 12.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ERNEST ALBERT NORMAND, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO EMILE H. NORMAND, OF SAN FRAN- CISCO, CALIFORNIA, AND ONE-HALF TO EVERETT R. CARPENTER, OF "WASHINGTON,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PAPER-FOLDINGl APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.3, 1912.

Application filed January 5, 190\ Serial No. 294,809.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST A. NORMAND, acitizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, in..the State of California, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Paper-Folding Apparatus, of which the following is a' specification, reference being had therein to the accompany-- draw out the first sheet and at the same time causethe first leaf of the second sheet to project in its place, and so on .leaf after leaf and sheet after sheet till the container is emptied, the paper. therein in the meanwhile being properly shielded and capable of use with the greatest possible economy. Such books or packages can bev made most expeditiously and with the least expense by interfoldirrg ,the paper off the rolls as they come from the mill and subsequently cutting it up of the required length, as many webs being employed, whenever feasible, as will yield the desired number of sheets incach book or package.

Various schemes and devices have been suggested and proposed for producing the like, but-in so far as this inventor. is aware they have not proved satisfactory-for tissue and'other easily torn paper, I custom that has prevailed (fl attempting to carry on the interfolding operation simultaneously with the folding of the individual webs, which manner of proceeding causes. incessant fl'lCtlOl'L lBSHltlIlg in the frequent tearing and partin of the paper, and consequent stoppage o1 the machinery, the working whereof therefore is too slow i to be commercially. remunerative.

The present invention provides for the because of the complete isolation, and proper guidance, of each single web of paper while itis being folded, so that, whatever may be the tension of the individual web it cannot in the least degree afiect or be affectedby the .ad-

jacent ones, and the webs do not come together to be interleaved until after they have been drawn through and outof the apparatus. j

The structural details of this improved apparatus will now be succinctlydeseribed, and the novel features thereof further pointed out. 4

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is a top plan of a sniall form of the appa'ratu's. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view, showing one of a number of tubescomprised in the apparatus. Fig. at is a partial cross section on the line A-A of Fig. 1, also enlarged. Fig. 5 is a similarly-enlarged top view of a corresponding fragment of the apparatus, at 'the enteringend of its tubes. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line B-B of Fig. 1, enlarged to the scaleof Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 7 is a similar section on the line C-C of Fig 1-, with the bends and curves thereof rather exaggerated. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating in perspective the (ap proximate) shape given to the several-"tubes at the delivery endof the'apparatus, and the folds thereby produced in webs of paper that are passed through the respective tubes, preparati'vely to interleaving. 'Figs. 9 and 10 are likewise diagrams, representing respectively the entrance and delivery ends of tubes of modified construction.

The same reference-characters, .wherever they occur.""designate the same parts throughout the various figures The apparatusconsists principally of two series of tubes, or conduits 1 and 2, oppositelylfaced and upon some suitable support, as a table or frame 3. .Figa8 illustrates the preferred form of the said tubes, when the same are made of sheet-metal, which form is identical for both series, the only difference between the two series being one of position.v

As represented in this view, each tube is flat laid one'on top of the other ioo at one end, and for a short distance there ing in t v emergencystrips, from the fact.- that they 'gree's and more and more as it 'of a circle the entrance ends, the who-le' the point marked 4, is gradually creased outedian line, as at 5, tilljit is ed upon itself at the other end. A correspondiugly-shaped channel or'passage, flat at its incipiency, thence sloping from the center, to opposite sides, by deadvances, and finally taking an approximately ogival bend, is thereby produced, which, it will be readily understood, is adapted to impart the same form to a web of paper' passing there-' through,+the paper entering. in a fiat state from, or as far as whence the tube; Ward, on a m almost doubl clearly illustrated and being doubled over as it comes out.

In the construction illustrated by Figs. 1 to 8, i11clusive ,"eacl1 tube (1 or 2) is left open, as at 6, on the inwardly-creased side, the longitudinal slot-like aperture thus formed serving chiefly to economize mate: -rial, when. the tube is made of metal,brass, for instance. This aperture is covered, whenever theapparatus is being used, by l'neans of a strip 7, of pliable material, as stout paper or fibrous board or stiff leather, which is of substantially 't-hesame width as the inside of the tube and is inserted therein. with the paper to be folded, the strip remain-' he tube to Continue to guide the paper through, after-insertion. Spare strips (7) are provided,- which may be termed do not come'into use unless breaks occur in the paper that is being folded, wi-thln the tubes, when 1t becomes 'necessary'to re-insert the paper and again pull'it completely through. The inserted strips "are made to project slightly outward, where theyenter each tube, the mouth whereof .is' moreover provided with a curved lip 8, for the common purpose of properly guiding in the paper to be fol'd- .ed. The tubes of the two series- 1 and 2 are oppositely faced, as aforesaid, in the sense that their open or slotted walls are turned toward. one another. They are not, however, set squarely face upon face, but are arranged so as to break jointsat. their entering-ends, as suggested in F 9, and to intermesh or interlock at the opposite creased ends, as. Figs. 7, 8, and 1G respectively indicate. This arrangement causes the several tubes to converge toward a common center at their delivery ends while spreading out in the arc having a fan-likeappearance as seen in. Fig. 1. As before int iinated,.the paper to befolded is preferably supplied to the apparatus in continuous I webs previously wound into; rolls 9, as commonly sold. One such roll is'provided for each tulw, the same being mounted .in suitable brackets or uprights, as 110., No particular disposition of the rolls or webs is required, other'than what best may be found most convenient in each. case to lead thepaper to its own part of the apparatus. The ahnement of the rolls and uniform elevation of the webs shown in the fore rather immaterial. I It will be observed that although'each web of paper is kept entirely separate from any of the others out of the ap so folded, during. their same, that they become lnentthey emerge therefronnf drawings for each series of tubes are there passage through the r This is in Fig; 8,, wherein it will be seen that'the folded Webs issuing from while being-drawninto and paratus, the several Webs are interleaved the; 0-

the upper tubes it virtually fallastride of the' adjoining halves of'the relatively-inverted Webs that come out of the lower tubes 2. The webs passing through these upperand. lower ,tubes are respectively marked 1l. and 12 int-he accompanying drawings,

' Collectively, the webs 11 and 12, as they are being drawnaway from the apparatus. form a long bundle, which upon being cut into the 'usual lengths'or sections will yield agreater or lessnumber of books or packages, naturally containing each as many interleaved sheets as there are tubes employed in' the apparatus, the lattereasily including from twenty-five to fifty and more. Books or packages of this character vary in size nature of the paper of -which they-are'made and the use to which they are destined, depending, for example, on whether the paperis of the kind required to n'iako-cigarettes, or is to be used for toilet purposes, or for Wrapping jewelry,.eandies,v fruit and confections, etc., and whether also it is to be given away with small. purchases of tobacco or as advertising matter for carry-in g in the pocket or for use or on a store counter. They may, therefore, be composed of any desirable number of sheets, say from twenty-five to one tl'aousand. The thicker books or packages are obtained by pla'cingtogether, side by side, two or more bundles of'the interleaved webs, causing the adjacent sheets of adjoining'bundles to be similarly interleaved, and then cutting up the juxtaposed bundles to make the books or packages of the required dimemsions. Asa convenience in counting and handling the bundles for producing books or packages of a prescribed thickness, to' either add to or take from the same, the outer leaf of the first sheet, on. either side of eachbundlc, is preferablyimade to pro-' -jectj above the rest, in. order that it may be y seen and easily reached. This 1s oulctl accomplished by making the first tube,- on either side of the apparatus, so that the outer half thereof willstand above the other tubes, as indicated at 1'3, Fig. 7, the other half being correspondingly lowered, as

Figs. 9 and 10 give the .outlines of tubes that are closed, and which may be employed instead of the open or slotted tubes hereinor sold at ho'ine bcforedescribed. The tubes shown inv the last named figures are respectively marked 15 and 16. They will fold the paper in the same manner as the other kind, and the strips 7 need not be used in connection with thennthe paper to be folded being simply inserted by means of a metallic tape or other convenient tool.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: i

1. In a paper folding machine, a{ die of tubular formhaving opposed Walls, said tube being longitudinally creased so as to gradually fold a web of paper longitudinally when said web is passed through the tube, and a second tube corresponding to the first tube and having its bent sides fitting into the correspondingdepression of said first tube.

2. In a paper folding machine, a pair of opposed relatively inverted dies, each comprising a tube longitudinally creased to provide a V-shaped channel having opposed outer and inner walls, the inner walls exitending inwardly from the free edges of the.

outer walls and having their free; edges spaced to form a slot or passage, said dies being arranged in intermeshing relation, and strips extending through the respective dies and covering the slots or passages thereof;

3. In a. paper folding machine, a die comprising a longitudinally creased tube forming a V-shaped channel having opposed in ner and outer walls, the free edges of the inner walls being spaced to form a slot, and a strip extending through the channel and covering said slot.

4, In a paper folding apparatus, a longitudinally creased tube forming a V-shaped channel, having opposed outer and.inner walls, said inner walls having their free edges spaced 'to form a slot, and a strip reinovably fitted within the channel and covering said slot.

In a paper folding apparatus, a die comprising a longitudinally creased tube forming a V-shaped channel, having opposed inner and outer walls,.the inner walls having their free edges spaced to form a slot, and a pliable removable strip extending through the channel and covering said slot.

6. A paper folding apparatus compr1s ng two series of oppositely creased, converging and. intermcshing tubes, the outer half oi the creased part of one tube on either side standing above the other tubes.

7. In. a paper folding machine, a die of tubular form having opposed walls, said tube being made 'fiat at the feed end and bent centrally and longitudinally toward the other end so as to operate. gradually to fold a. web of'paper centrally and longitudinally when the paper is passed through the tube,

and a second tube corresponding to the first tube and having its bent sides fitting into the corresponding depression of said first tube.

8. In a paper folding machine, the combination of parallel series of dies, each die in each series comprising a tube flattened at the feed end and having opposed walls,

said tube being bent longitudinally to cause its opposite edges gradually to approach each other and said tubes along their bended portions being substantially V-shaped in cross section and the bent sides of the tubes in one series fitting into the corresponding [depressions in the other series.

pendently folding separate webs of paper and maintaining the same in separated relation during the folding action. said tubes being relatively arranged to interleave the webs at their delivery ends.

1].. A paper folding and interleaving apparatus comprising two series of tubes adapted each to receive and separately fold a web of paper previously and preparatively to interleaving. the tubes of one series be ing creased oppositely to and meshing with the tubes of the other series. and said tubes havingtheir delivery ends arranged to interleave the folded webs discharging therefrom.

12. In a paper folding apparatus, two series of dies of duplicate construction, each having opposed forming walls, the forming walls of the respective series of dies being adapted and relativelvdisposed to fold a corresponding number of moving webs in opposite directions and to maintain the same separated during the folding action. and the walls of the two series of dies being arranged to intermcsh with their discharge portions disposed to delivertbe series of folded webs in. interleaving relation.

13. In a paper folding apparatus, two series of superposed dies having relatively inverted \l-shaped channeled walls adapted to reversely fold a corresponding number of webs into similar form. said series of dies being relatively arranged to maintain the webs separated during the folding action, the walls of the series of dies being arranged to break joint and intermesh so as to deliver the series of reversely folded webs in interleaving relation.

14-. In a paper folding apparatus, two series of tubular dice adapted to fold a series of moving webs in opposite directions, said 'series' 0f dies being relatively arranged to maintain the webs separated during the folding action and to interleave the Webs as they issue therefrom.

1 r 15. In a paper folding apparatus, two. "Series of opposed stationary dies adapted to,

f old a series of moving webs inopposite direct-ions, said series of dies being relatively arranged to maintain the webs separated durin r the folding action and to deliver the 10 folde ,Webs in interleaving relation.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST ALBERT NORMAND. [Lfsj v Witnesses EMILE H. NORMAN -A. H. STE. MARIE.

copieeof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington; I) 0. 

